The startling statistic, for the Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland areas, comes from Cleveland Fire Brigade’s service plan summary.

Mr Blenkinsop said: “While a reduction in home fires across Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland is to be welcomed, an increase of over 30% in arson is of clear concern to me and my constituents.”

Nationally, the number of deliberate fires rose by just 2.7%.

The Labour MP added: “Not only have deliberate fires caused a real human cost for their victims, it has also taken another £2.7m out of Teesside’s and East Cleveland’s economy.

“I hope to meet with the Chief Fire Officer Ian Hayton to discuss the reasons behind this increase and the steps policymakers can take to help firefighters combat it.

“In addition, I have already written to the Shadow Fire Minister, Chris Williamson, to bring these figures in Cleveland to his attention.”

In a parliamentary debate on the funding of fire and rescue services, Mr Blenkinsop said research showed Cleveland faces a per capita cut equivalent to £1.23 per resident in the brigade area, while some areas will get a rise.

He said: “This is devastating when Cleveland is the brigade most dependent on DCLG (Department for Local Government and Communities) funding in England, yet it is facing the highest cuts, despite having the joint highest number of incidents at 10.87 fire incidents in Cleveland per 1,000 residents.”

In 2011-12, arson was responsible for three-quarters of all incidents in the Cleveland brigade area.